After breakfast, the three of them lingered at their table, weighed down by the importance of their next move. The air was thick with unspoken tension. Juno absentmindedly pushed around the last bits of her food, her thoughts swirling.
"Who's this contact of yours, Ain?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Ain looked around, ensuring no one was listening. "Name's Lyros. He's a demon who deals in information, completely neutral, only loyal to coin or favors. Lucky for us, he owes me one."
Juno arched a brow. "And why does he owe you?"
Ain smirked. "Let's just say I saved his scaly hide from a very, very angry succubus. Guy got himself into a mess, and I helped him out."
Gin sighed. "I don't even want to know."
Juno frowned, drumming her fingers on the table. "Can we trust him?"
The cat tilted his head, considering. "Trust? No, but I trust that he likes breathing and knows what will happen if he crosses me."
Gin stood up and tossed a few coins onto the table for their meal. "Then let's find him. The sooner we find out more about Gluttony, the better."
• •
When they stepped outside the inn, they found the streets of the demonic realm buzzing with life. The distant sounds of laughter and wailing echoed through the alleys.
Ain led the way with ease, navigating the chaotic streets as if he belonged there, which, Juno realised, he probably did. Demonic merchants shouted from their stalls, selling trinkets, strange relics and grotesque food that Juno tried not to look at too closely. Every now and then, she felt the weight of a stare, so she did her best to keep her head down.
"Didn't think I'd see the day when I'd be guiding a couple of lost souls through the market," Ain quipped, glancing back at them with a smirk. "Try not to look too out of place, yeah? The wrong kind of attention here can get real messy."
"Yeah, I figured that out the moment someone tried to sell me a cursed necklace," Juno muttered, adjusting her collar.
Ain snorted. "Oh, you got off easy. Last time I was here, someone tried to sell me a screaming skull. Said it made a great alarm system."
Juno laughed dryly, but her amusement faded when she caught Gin watching her. His expression was impenetrable, but there was something different about his gaze, which appeared curious, perhaps even suspicious.
"You mentioned your friend was helping you when everything went wrong," His voice was casual, but there was an edge to it, like he was testing something. "What exactly went wrong? What happened before you ended up in Limbo?"
Juno stopped breathing for a second. Before she could answer, Ain turned slightly, his eyes catching hers. A subtle shake of the head, it was a quiet warning.
Don't tell him.
"I... demons attacked us," she said quickly, forcing her tone to stay level. "Yves was trying to help me get away."
Gin's eye narrowed slightly. "Demons." He repeated the word like he was tasting it. "What kind of demons? What did they want?"
The questions came sharp and pointed. Juno felt trapped between his probing gaze and Ain's warning look.
"I don't know," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It all happened so fast. They just... attacked us."
Gin didn't react right away. His expression didn't change, but his focus sharpened. Her words seemed to be studied and dissected by him.
"Demons don't usually hunt humans without reason," he said slowly. "What exactly were they–"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Ain cut in, stepping between them with exaggerated casualness. "Look at you two, getting all intense in the middle of a demon market. Really setting the mood for subtle research here." He gestured broadly at the bustling streets around them. "Maybe save the interrogation for somewhere a little more... private?"
Gin's jaw tightened, clearly frustrated by the interruption, but his gaze swept the crowded marketplace. Several demons had glanced their way, drawn by the tension in their voices.
"Fine," Gin said, but his tone suggested this conversation was far from over.
Juno's hand twitched toward the watch strung around her neck, the artefact that had brought her here and bound her fate to Ain's. She quickly tucked it under her blouse, grateful for Ain's intervention, but knowing it was only temporary.
"Great! Love it when we all agree," Ain said brightly, already moving forward. "Now, we have a meeting to get to. And trust me, you don't want to keep these particular contacts waiting."
Gin didn't say anything else, but as they moved forward, Juno felt his gaze flick towards her one last time.
Whatever came next, Juno knew one thing for sure: she was running out of time to keep her secrets.
They turned into a narrower alleyway and the chaotic market noise faded behind them. The deeper they went, the more their surroundings changed.
Ain stopped at a crooked, shadowed building covered in black vines. The shuttered windows were warped with age, and Juno could have sworn she felt eyes behind them.
"This is it," Ain said, padding up to the door. "I'll ring the bell."
Rather than reaching for anything with his paw, he gripped a frayed rope in his teeth and gave it several sharp yanks. This produced a deep, metallic groan that echoed through the stone beneath their feet.
Then after a brief pause, the door creaked open an inch, and two glowing green eyes peered out from the darkness beyond. They lingered on Ain, flicked to Gin, then to Juno.
"Ain," came a low, gravel-lined voice. "What do you want, cat?"
Ain grinned, tail flicking. "Now, don't tell me that's how you treat your friends."
The eyes didn't blink.
"We need information," Ain continued. "About Gluttony."
A rustle of movement, then the door opened a fraction wider.
"And what do you offer in return?" Lyros asked slowly. His gaze drifted toward Juno, and this time it didn't move. He inhaled slightly, and something in his demeanor shifted. "Interesting," he murmured. "She doesn't smell normal."
Juno stiffened, her foot sliding half a step back instinctively. The way he said it wasn't lecherous, but it wasn't harmless either. It was full of intrigue, like that of a collector spotting something rare.
"That human girl would make an excellent trade," Lyros added, and though his tone was smooth, the threat underneath was real.
Gin stepped forward, his body subtly blocking Juno from view. "Cut the crap," he said, voice like ice. "She's not for sale."
Ain stretched lazily, flexing his claws against the wooden doorstep. "Come on, Lyros. We both know you still owe me. This is me cashing in."
Lyros stared at them in silence, his eyes flicking between each of them before returning to Juno. She held his gaze, chin lifted, just refusing to flinch.
After a long pause, he let out a slow breath, and stepped back.
"Fine," he muttered. "Come in, let's talk."
As she walked in, she could see his whole body. He was lean, with long, dark green hair that fell in loose curls to the ground.
Her gaze flicked to Gin. His posture, which was usually tense with repressed aggression, had relaxed slightly. He was not entirely relaxed, but the edge had dulled. The threat had passed, at least for now. This alone showed her just how dangerous Lyros was. If Gin had been prepared for a fight, she should have been terrified.
She thought of Sereph. Of Gluttony. Of the necklace in her pocket. In this world, demons didn't just intimidate; they delighted in it. While Ain laughed it all off and Gin moved through it like a native, she was still the outsider. She was the first one to become a target, or maybe she already was one.
Still, it was Gin she kept glancing at. Because if he had been worried… What chance did she stand?
She straightened her spine, forcing herself to stay alert and read the room the way he would. Meanwhile, Ain was enjoying it as if they were at a dinner party.
"We need to know everything," Gin said, his voice cutting the silence. "Her routines. Her weaknesses. Anything we can use."
Lyros didn't answer straight away. He moved slowly and gestured towards the worn chairs around the table. Juno and Ain took their seats. Gin remained standing.
"Well," Lyros began, his tone sharp-edged. "You're asking for quite a lot. But fine. I'll give you something." He leaned back against the table, his smile thin. "She is what she represents: endless appetite and endless need. She's always consuming: Food, power, loyalty. Everything's a resource to her."
"But?" Gin pressed.
Lyros's smile flickered and became harder to read. "But when she can't get what she needs, she gets... unstable." He drummed his fingers against the table. "Cut off her supply lines and you'll have a window of opportunity; she'll be vulnerable. But she'll also be furious and desperate."
"How long of a window?" Gin asked.
"That depends on how much you're willing to risk," Lyros said with a shrug. "Could be your best shot at her. Could also be the last mistake you ever make." He paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Of course, there's another approach. When she's well-fed and content, she gets... distracted. Complacent. Less likely to notice uninvited guests." His smile turned sharp. "Though if she does catch you, she'll be at full strength."
His gaze swept over them. "So, starve her and face her rage while she's weak, or let her feast and hope her satisfaction makes her careless. Either way, you're gambling with your lives."
The silence that followed felt heavy with the weight of an impossible decision.
"Well, this is cheerful," Ain said, breaking the tension. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned suicide mission to really bring a team together."
Lyros's mouth twitched with what might have been amusement. "And lately… she's expanded her tastes."
Juno's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"
"Until recently, she never touched humans. But something's changed, she's taken an interest. Dangerous, unpredictable interest."
Juno's throat tightened. "She has my friend. Yves. We have to get him back."
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Ain turned to her, his face unreadable, but something dark lurked behind his violet eyes.
Lyros's gaze settled on Juno. "If she's got your friend, you'd best prepare for the worst." His tone was casual, almost indifferent. "Odds are, he's already gone."
A cold dread settled in her stomach. "We have to try," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady despite the tremor in her hands.
Lyros raised a brow, but said nothing. Gin's jaw flexed, eye narrowing. And then there was Ain.
It was unsettling. His sarcasm, his smirks and his constant commentary were all gone. He just sat there, his tail still and his violet eyes unreadable. For Ain to be this quiet, the gravity of their situation was clear.
Lyros watched them, his head tilted and a sneer twitching at the corner of his mouth. "You're not seriously thinking of saving that friend of yours, are you?"
Juno's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lyros shrugged. "It's pointless. If Gluttony's had him for more than a few hours, he's probably already dead." He looked straight at her. "And there's no afterlife for him, y'know?"
Juno's breath caught and a knot formed in her chest, but Lyros was far from finished. "And you, little human... What exactly do you think you're going to do there? Especially with that scent of yours."
She blinked, taken aback. "What?"
He laughed softly, almost purring. "Sweet, fresh, mortal. That kind of perfume doesn't go unnoticed down here." His smirk deepened. "Planning to offer yourself up too? Or just hoping she's feeling generous?"
Shame and fury warred within her. He wasn't wrong, but the way he said it and the pleasure he took in it made her want to throw something through the wall.
Before she could respond, a steady hand closed over her shoulder.
Gin.
He didn't say a word, but the strength of his hand spoke volumes. It felt like a shield between her and the venom still dripping from Lyros's smile.
"We're done here," Gin said, voice sharp and cold. "Thanks for the information."
Ain's ears pricked up and he stepped down from his chair. Juno looked back at Gin, who simply gestured for her to stand up and follow him. And so she did.
She tried to ignore the laugh forming in Lyros' throat, he was enjoying the moment too much.
"Remember me when you're being devoured, little human!" Lyros called, his laughter echoing off the walls.
Gin slammed the door shut behind them, silencing it.
The air outside was no cleaner, but it felt better. Juno exhaled shakily; what had affected her most wasn't Lyros's threats. It was Gin's behavior.
His grip had been steady. His voice had remained unshaken. But beneath the control, something else lingered. And for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why he seemed to care so much.
Every sound, a rustle of leaves, a branch snapping in the wind, felt amplified in the heavy silence between them.
It was, of course, Ain who broke it first, his voice laced with mocking calm. "Well, that was a bit rude," he said, licking his paw with exaggerated ease and his eyes cut to Juno. "Why does he talk like you're some kind of pathetic, breakable thing?"
She couldn't find the strength to answer and just kept her gaze low. Ain's words hurt, but not as much as Lyros's had. That demon had torn her apart as though she were nothing, exposing her weaknesses like they were obvious to everyone.
"Stop that," Gin's voice sliced through the tension.
Ain's ears flicked, his tail swishing once. "What?" he sneered. "You playing the noble knight now, Gin? Come on, pretend Lyros didn't have a point. Juno's not gonna survive there. She's gonna get eaten alive."
Gin's head snapped toward him, his eye burning with restrained fury. He didn't speak right away, but when he did, his words cut deep "And what about you, cat? Always running your mouth. If you're that concerned, do something useful. Otherwise, shut it."
Ain let out a bitter laugh, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You wanna talk about useless?" he said, stepping closer. "I've been here longer than either of you, I know how this world works, and I know what we're up against. But I don't pretend I can save everyone." He jabbed a paw toward Gin. "You act like you're some savior. Like if you just grit your teeth and bleed hard enough, you can protect her from everything. But you can't. And what are you gonna do when she dies anyway?"
Juno flinched at the word dies and stared at the ground, her thoughts a whirlwind. Ain was right. This whole rescue was in vain, and if anything bad happened it would be her fault.
But still, Gin stood between her and the storm. The way he'd defended her back there, the steadiness of his hand... It had to mean something.
Ain's tail twitched and a moment of silence passed between them. Then he asked the question.
"You're so damn protective of her, Gin. Why? You don't even know her. So why do you care so much?"
Gin's jaw clenched as he looked over at Ain with a hard gaze. "It's none of your business."
But Ain wasn't finished. "Oh, so it's none of my business?" Ain scoffed. "You act like she's some kind of saint. But she's just human. Newsflash, Gin: the world doesn't work like that. You can't protect her forever. What are you going to do when you can't?"
Gin's hands curled into fists. "I know I can't protect her forever," he growled. "But she deserves a chance. Someone has to give her that."
Ain's smirk returned, cold and cutting. "Right. So it's not about her scent, then? Or the way demons look at her as if she's a walking feast?" He paused, a glint of cruelty in his voice. "Just don't lie to yourself, Gin. You're not above it."
The words hit harder than Juno wanted to admit, and her throat tightened. Is that what this is all about? Just instinct? Something in me that I can't control?
Gin noticed the change in her expression, how she turned her head and crossed her arms as if she needed something to hold onto.
"Don't listen to him, Juno," he whispered, but the strain in his voice gave him away; it was as if he was trying to erase the doubt that had settled in her eyes. "It's not your scent. You're not some... thing to be used."
She swallowed hard and took a breath. "I think we should just go back to the inn."
Her voice was steady, but she didn't look at either of them.
Ain's eyes flickered with something that could be mistaken for amusement, though it was laced with a hint of frustration. "Fine, just sweep everything under the rug."
"We're wasting time," she said flatly. "This isn't about Lyros. And it's not about you two butting heads like kids." Her voice sharpened. "Yves is still in there. Unless either of you has something actually useful to say, shut up and focus."
Without waiting for a response, she walked ahead, her posture stiff and her jaw clenched. She could feel their eyes on her back, but she didn't stop.
Gin followed, his footsteps heavy. Ain lingered for a moment longer before sighing and following them.
"Well, look at that," he muttered, almost to himself. "The little fledgling's growing claws."
Juno didn't react, she just kept walking. She couldn't stop thinking about what they had said about Gin, about the scent, and about whether any of this had ever really been her. She just wanted to believe that she was more than bait.
As they reached the inn, she glanced over. Gin was watching her, but his face gave nothing away.
And she was suddenly too afraid to ask what he really saw when he looked at her.